NSC Congress & Expo Races to Indianapolis

The National Safety Council will continue its "race towards the goal of zero deaths" at this year's Congress & Expo, which takes place at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Ind. More than 15,000 attendees are expected at the expo, which runs from Sept. 23-29, with the exposition—the largest for an annual U.S. safety conference—taking place 25-27.

Given that the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which has hosted the Formula One Indianapolis 500 since 1911, is in close proximity, a racing theme will be present throughout the event. NASCAR driver Kyle Petty will kick off the event with his opening session, while Paralympic Ski Medalist and former White House official Bonnie St. John will also deliver a keynote speech.

Other news and notes from the expo include: A new NSC Auto Safety Tech Zone, which will showcase major auto manufacturers and new auto technology, as well as more than 100 technical sessions, including nine new "hot topics," repeat sessions, and 60-minute sessions.

A total of 25 professional development seminars also are planned, including topics such as creating a quality safety culture, effective safety plans, and using neuroscience for safe performance.

The NSC Congress & Expo is sure to be a week full of education and innovation in the safety and health market, so be ready to start your engines come Sept. 25.

The Convention Center and Indianapolis Highlights
Seventy percent of NSC expo hall hours are exclusive this year, meaning they won't be competing with educational sessions. This should ensure a busy show floor throughout the event.

Expo hours for the event are as follows:

Monday, Sept. 25—9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sept. 26—9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sept. 27—9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For those visiting Indianapolis, the first thing you will likely experience is the award-winning Indianapolis International Airport (IND). IND was crowned the 2016 Best Airport in North America by Airports Council International, an award it has won five out of the last six years. It was also selected for Best Overall Passenger Experience by J.D. Power and Associates.

In order to get downtown from the airport, Go Express Airport Shuttle offers an affordable alternative to a traditional taxi. The non-stop bus service runs every 30 minutes from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. and costs $10 for a one-way ticket.

The Indiana Convention Center is conveniently located in the heart of downtown Indianapolis, across the street from Lucas Oil Stadium, which is home to the NFL's Indianapolis Colts. After Indianapolis won the bid to host Super Bowl XLVI in 2012, the convention center landed a $275 million expansion, making it one of largest spaces of its kind in the country and connecting it by skywalks to more hotel rooms than any other city's convention center, according to the convention center's website.

The grant also allowed the downtown area to become more pedestrian friendly. Major renovations to Georgia Street, which connects the convention center to Bankers Life Fieldhouse (home of the Indiana Pacers) and Circle Centre mall, created a family-friendly walkable environment complete with restaurants, shops and hotels.

Those looking to see more of what the city has to offer would be wise to visit the aforementioned Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which is just a few miles outside the city. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., giving visitors a history of not only the track, but the sport of racing itself.

Those less inclined to visit the track could take a leisurely stroll along the Canal Walk, which runs through White River State Park and up to 11th Street. The walk features a mixture of old and new architecture, attractions, and monuments and is a route for jogging, gondola rides, bike rentals, and more.

If you happen to have your family in tow, a trip to the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is no-brainer. The Children's Museum is the largest museum of its kind at more than 400,000 square feet. Galleries explore science, history, culture and the arts while facilitating learning and active engagement. For the shopping and dining crowd, the Circle Centre Mall takes up two full city blocks of downtown real estate right next to the convention center. A visit to St. Elmo's Steakhouse is a must for steak lovers, as well as those brave enough to try the "world famous" shrimp cocktail complete with spicy cocktail sauce. Alternatively, Napolese offers artisanal pizzas and salads close by.

This article originally appeared in the August 2017 issue of Occupational Health & Safety.

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